Chris Beshay, M.D.

Hometown: Mississauga, Canada

Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine

I did my undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa and completed medical school on the beautiful island of Antigua and Barbuda. I am interested in a mix of inpatient and outpatient medicine.

Some hobbies I enjoy are golfing, volleyball, hiking, working out, going to concerts and sports games, and travelling to different continents! In my free time, you can find me spending quality time with my family and discovering constellations while camping.

I chose Summa because of countless opportunities to rotate in different specialties, entertain fellowships, and the passion that our attending physicians have for education and teaching.

 

Kate Marotta, D.O.

Hometown: Valley View, Ohio

Medical school: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - Athens, Ohio

The best part of being a resident at Summa is the supportive and welcoming environment.  I value how members of our program are always working to grow and provide the best educational experience and patient care experience possible.

In my free time, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends, traveling locally and internationally, trying different restaurants/foods, cooking, exercising, and being active outdoors.  I also enjoy a good (or bad) reality TV show.

 

Jenna Ferguson, M.D.

Hometown: Twinsburg, Ohio

Medical school: Northeast Ohio Medical University

The best part about being a resident at Summa is the culture of learning that is created here. All of the attendings that I have worked with are committed to teaching and fostering your growth as a physician. This makes the transition to being a resident easier, knowing that you are going to be supported.  What sets our program apart from others is the vast number of opportunities to explore areas of interest within family medicine as well as the very supportive faculty and other residents.

In my free time I like to read, go for walks, travel and spend time with family and friends.

 

Emily Justus, D.O.

Hometown: Canton, Ohio

Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - Athens, Ohio

I chose Summa for residency because I had such a transformative and positive experience at Summa as a medical student and knew it would be the same experience as a resident.The culture here is unlike anywhere else. Summa always goes the extra mile to take the best care of its patients, employees, and community.The attendings are excited to teach and there is a precedence of profound professionalism and respect for every person. I also love being able to care for and give back to the Northeast Ohio community that I come from.

I chose the specialty of family medicine because I want to be an impactful physician that develops meaningful long-term relationships with patients. I take great pride in the fact that we care for every age and at any time in a patient’s life. I love that this field has never-ending opportunities for growth and change. Most of all, I love that we have the greatest opportunity to get patients to truly buy into their own health and in turn live happier, healthier lives. 

The best part about being a resident here is the fact that every day at work I feel like I am part of something much bigger than myself, and I am surrounded by such kind, intelligent, and compassionate individuals. I genuinely am excited to go to work every day, especially when I get to work with my co-residents. 

In my free time, I like to travel, hike, cook, visit breweries, and spend time with family, friends, and my dogs.

Alexandra Piampiano, D.O.

Hometown: Rochester, New York

Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

For me what sets Summa FM apart from other programs is the people! The faculty and residents truly care about each other and their patients. The attendings, both in FM and on other services that we rotate through, love to teach. The faculty are very supportive and have open door policies.  There are tons of fellowships at Summa, which makes getting connected with people who have similar interests very attainable. Some of my areas of interest are sports medicine, public health, and social determinants of health.  Also, the food at Summa is the best of any hospital I've ever been to.  They bring in a local restaurant every day of the week at a station in the cafeteria.

In my free time I like to exercise, hike and do just about anything outdoors. I also like to join my co-residents for trivia.

Jessica Poirier, M.D.

Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Medical School: All Saints University School of Medicine, Dominica

The best part about being a resident at Summa is the kindness that you witness from every person who works at the hospital. The cafeteria staff, the janitors, the administrative staff, the program coordinators and, of course, the fellows, residents and attendings. Despite the stress of our work, it is nice to see friendly faces every day or get a hello on rounds.

I think what sets our program apart from others is the attention that the faculty pay to ensure that our residency experience is matching our career interests, especially in family medicine where we have the privilege of working with such diverse populations and etiologies.

In my free time, I like to read, listen to music, scrapbook, travel, try new restaurants/foods, and hang out with my significant other and family.

 

 

Victoria Wobser, M.D.

Hometown: Clyde, Ohio

Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University

The best part of being a resident at Summa is the strong teaching culture throughout the whole hospital. Everyone, from attendings to techs to social workers, is willing to take a minute to answer your questions. I love working with our rotating medical students and getting to share everything that I've learned so far with them. I chose family medicine because I come from a rural background and have a strong interest in working with the underserved, and a large portion of our patient population at our family medicine center are underserved.

In my free time, I like to read, play video games, ride my motorcycle, hang out on Lake Erie with my family, and dominate our class trivia nights.

 

 

Christina Wong, D.O.

Hometown: Cupertino, California

Medical School: Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

The best part of being a resident at Summa are my co-residents! My class gets together at least once a month for trivia nights and dinner, and we always lean on each other for support and encouragement. My co-residents, along with our faculty, create a safe and supportive learning community essential to the residency experience. This provides a strong foundation for us to effectively care for our diverse patient population through collaboration with other hospital departments and immersion within the Akron community.

Additionally, we have a wide variety of delicious food options on campus, including Starbucks and an ice cream store, all of which are covered with our monthly food stipend. (Both the coffee and the ice cream are lifesaving!)

Outside of work, I enjoy exploring coffee shops and boutique stores, going out to brunch, nature photography, reading, and knitting chemo caps.

Alexa Becker, M.D.

Hometown: Brookeville, Maryland

Medical School: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Faculty of Health Sciences - Beer-Sheva, Israel

My medical interests are women's health, community medicine and global health.

One of the best parts of completing residency at Summa is the hospital. It’s a wonderful place to train in family medicine. We are a fairly large institution and yet communal enough to have relationships with the other services in the hospital. It’s a really special place. Equally as important are my coresidents. I truly adore working with and learning from them every day.

In my free time I love hiking, traveling to see loved ones, hanging with friends and exploring new places around Cleveland. You can find me watching the sunset at Edgewater beach, running on the towpath or just listening to vinyls at home with my cats.

Frederick Ferguson, M.D.

Hometown: Agogo, Ghana, Africa

Medical School: Caribbean Medical University School of Medicine

 

Dhruti Hirani, D.O.

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency is a tough journey, and I owe it to Summa to have met such wonderful life-long friends. During my initial interactions with my class, I was so relieved to have such kind and amazing people to share this journey with me. Throughout our time together, we have really bonded and relied on each other for support.

My medical interests include lifestyle medicine, dermatology, nutrition, and all of the procedures!

Outside of medicine, I consider myself an avid baker and chef. I enjoy artsy activities such as drawing, painting and I am currently learning to do henna. I enjoy short hikes and playing badminton. One of my goals in life is to explore all of the National Parks.

Jennifer Ibarra, D.O.

Hometown:

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

 

Oly Kar, D.O.

Hometown: South Lyon, Michigan

Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

I am grateful to have met such a wonderful cohort of co-residents within our program at Summa. It makes residency enjoyable knowing that I get to work with some amazing and kind-hearted individuals in my class who motivate me each day and are supportive of one another.

My medical interests include mental health, lifestyle medicine, pediatrics, and hospital medicine. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my dogs and taking them on walks. On the weekends, I like to try local restaurants, including ice cream shops, in Akron and Cleveland. During the summers, I like to play tennis with my family. I also love to swim laps and hope to get back into competitive swimming and diving one day.

Janice Kubiak, D.O.

Hometown:

Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

 

Leah McCollum, M.D.

Hometown: Wapakoneta, Ohio

Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University

The thing I love most about Summa is the people! Our class is very close, and I know I can count on them for anything. My specialty interests include adolescent medicine and reproductive health.

You can find me hanging out at Starbucks or hiding out in my office (probably also drinking Starbucks). My favorite things to do include going to concerts, trying new and exciting restaurants with my other half, Matt, and chilling on the couch with my cat, Jinx. 

William Berry, M.D.

Hometown: Courtice, Canada

Medical School: Trinity School of Medicine

What really drew me to Summa was the emphasis the program puts on teaching residents. It was obvious from the start that everyone is encouraging the incoming residents to learn and grow. It is a great work culture to be a part of. Every single person I've met has been so kind, and I feel super supported in every aspect of residency. They made what I thought was going to be the hardest few months of my life feel like a breeze.

I really like the Akron area. There are so many trails, festival type activities, and bars to keep you busy during your time off. In my free time I like to train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and I feel spoiled with choices, as there are three different gyms in the surrounding area. There are also plenty of areas around Akron to hike and fish, which are activities that I can spend entire days off enjoying.

Sejal Kotecha, D.O.

Hometown: Waltham, Massachusetts

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

 

Harini Prabhakaran, M.D.

Hometown: Beavercreek, Ohio

Medical School: Avalon University School of Medicine

The best part about being at Summa is the kind people and the smiles that you are greeted with every day! The faculty and staff work with you and listen to your feedback to make sure that you have the best opportunities available for your future career.  I also love how closely we work with the local community to address their specific needs. It is a privilege to positively impact the care in our community.

In my free time, I like to spend time with my family and friends, read, listen to podcasts, and try new restaurants/coffee shops. I also love exploring all of the MetroParks in the area.

Olivia Safady, M.D.

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University

Growing up in Cleveland, I attended Cleveland State University and plan to stay in Northeast Ohio. Choosing Summa was an easy decision given its proximity to Cleveland and the convenience of quick trips to Amish Country, Pittsburgh, or Columbus.

One of my passions is urban health and working with refugee populations, which is a core component of our training at Summa. Everyone here is wonderful and nice, creating a great learning atmosphere. If there is something specific you are interested in, there is no shortage of people here to help you make it happen.

In my free time, I enjoy going to coffee shops (there's no shortage of them here), shopping, and watching either reality TV or sci-fi—both far from actual reality. Also, the food and coffee options here are a plus.

Angad Salh, D.O.

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

As someone who grew up around beautiful nature and mountains, I was surprised by the beautiful greenery in Akron! There are a lot of parks and trails where you can hike, mountain bike, road bike and run. The MetroPark system in Akron/Cleveland is great! Akron is also very centrally located, so weekend trips to New York, Toronto, Chicago, etc., are a must.

My hobbies include cycling, running, golfing and watching TV. In my free time you can find me in one of the metro parks. 

Andrew Salib, M.D.

Hometown: Toronto, Canada

Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine

I chose Summa for residency because of its exceptional focus on creating a supportive and dynamic learning environment. The program's culture prioritizes both professional development and personal well-being. What I appreciate most about Summa is the genuine mentorship and encouragement provided by both the faculty and my fellow residents. It’s this sense of community and shared purpose that truly sets the program apart. Joining Summa has been an incredible experience, and I look forward to continuing my journey here, both professionally and personally.

In my free time, I enjoy working out, travelling and exploring new places, and hanging out with family/friends. I also enjoy Akron's outdoor activities, such as attending festivals and exploring the local parks.

Benjamin Stall, M.D.

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

What I enjoy about being a family medicine resident at Summa Health is the people. The residents and staff are friendly and create a supportive culture. The attendings here are very interested in teaching. The food at Summa is high quality with options including Starbucks and an ice cream shop.

In my free time I enjoy tennis, reading, cooking, and trying out new coffee shops.

Brandi Talley, D.O.

Hometown: Smiths Station, Alabama

Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Akron is great because there’s always something to do. There are a ton of places to eat and drink so that you’re always able to do something new, and you can usually find live music somewhere too! There’s a great concert venue called Blossom nearby and a lot of great trails to hike and explore. Not to mention all the professional sports teams nearby!

The best part about Summa is the support! From the first moment, everyone was kind and encouraging and working to provide the best educational experience possible. All the attendings love to teach us and care about us and our wellness.

In my free time I like to spend time with my significant other and our dog Delilah going on walks, hikes, or somewhere we can eat outside and get her a little treat! You can also catch me golfing, attending sports games, playing board games, or reading a good book.